It’s a huge expense to travel to Australia, but with so many young people moving there, my own son included, it’s a trip many Irish parents are now making.
Plenty of planning is involved and there are big considerations such as where to stay, and how to stretch out the budget while making precious memories. I discovered after spending a month in Sydney that some experiences are unmissable. Here’s my top ones…
Sydney Harbour is one of the most iconic views in the world
Bridge climb Sydney
One of the highlights of our trip was climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Ben Stiller, Nicole Kidman and Richard Branson are just some of the famous names to have done this climb.
All through the day you can see tiny stick figures traversing the steel frame from the harbour level.
It’s a two-hour trip and includes a briefing at the start with safety features. There is no better view than the top of the bridge looking back on the Opera House. All along the way I was tied to a rail and photos were taken by our guide and sent to us at the end of the climb.
Although I hit the stairs on a wet and slippy day it didn’t detract from the sheer exhilaration and thrill of the climb. See bridgeclimb.com.
Sydney by kayak
Another favourite is the Sydney by kayak activity that runs at sunrise and during the day.
I was hoping for pink skies and dazzling colours so opted to arrive at 4.30am. A coffee or tea is included in the price and Laura and her team did everything possible to help capture the best photographs of us kayaking under the bridge. This company is actively improving the sustainable life in the harbour as a portion of every ticket bought goes back to enhancing wildlife in the area. See sydneybykayak.com.au.
Circular Quay
There are many gorgeous places to eat from Chinatown to Surry Hills or on the coast around Bondi.
For one of our penultimate dinners we went to Café Sydney, located in the Customs House with stunning views of Circular Quay and the Opera House. Sunday lunch is a trend here and it’s a great way to put in an afternoon as there are exhibitions downstairs. See cafesydney.com.
The Tribal Warrior Aboriginal Cruise features authentic guides
Tribal Warrior Cruise
If you want to be guided around the harbour and learn about the country’s First Nations people, I recommend the Tribal Warrior Aboriginal Cruise. We were picked up at Circular Quay and taken to Clarke Island, where we experienced traditional tribal dancing and ceremony.
Led by aboriginal guides, we learned through stories about the Gadigal Tribe, their fishing practices and how the region evolved.
This is a meaningful blend of sightseeing with education that is great fun too. Visit tribalwarrior.org.
Luxury stay
The W Hotel Sydney is set in one of the best locations, close to the Central Business District and on the waterfront at Darling Harbour. It’s a bucket-list stay and has great amenities whether it’s a sticky hot 40C outside or a cool single digit degree Celsius, as the Sydney winters can get chilly.
The Away Spa boasts incredible views, as do the two swimming pools, one indoor and the other on the rooftop.
I opted for one of the signature massages that include many options from quick-fix to deep relaxation.
BTWN restaurant is the space where the spectacular breakfast is served. It’s a great venue for a special meal that is surprisingly good value with a European/Asian mix on the menu.
Rooms enjoy that special view over the water with convenient connections by ferry or tram. See marriott.com for more.
Byron Bay has attracted bohemians and hippies for decades
Byron Bay
This laidback town is a jewel on the New South Wales coastline, attracting bohemians and hippies for decades.
The weekend markets are filled with palm readers, jewellery stalls and delicious food trucks.
It’s a long drive from Sydney so we flew to Brisbane and drove for two hours to stay at a holiday park. Cape Byron Lighthouse is the easternmost point on mainland Australia with views that frequently include dolphins and whales.
Wategos Beach is one of the best for swimming, with shallow crystal clear waters and of course excellent free facilities for changing and showering.
The town is filled with boutique shops, yoga studios and some cracking restaurants. It comes alive at weekends with out-of-towners so plan your stay and make sure you have accommodation and restaurant reservations secured.
Travel Facts
Fly to Sydney with Emirates from €1,110 economy, emirates.ie. Before travelling to Sydney see visitnsw.com. For more from Michelle see thenoveltraveller.com.
The Great Southern Railway operated by Journey Beyond
Stay on track with this incredible train journey
After travelling so far across the globe, I took time out to explore more of Australia. Train travel has always been one of my favourite modes of transport, watching the landscape reveal itself to the rhythm of the rails.
We met up in Brisbane with the Great Southern Railway, operated by Journey Beyond. Our adventure began at Brisbane’s Hanworth House, where we gathered over breakfast and were handed lanyards, marking us all in gold, platinum or gold premium class cabins. Then we were taken by coach to Acacia Ridge Station and the glorious carriages from which we would meander across the continent.
We quickly made friends with other gold premium guests. This meant we’d share the same dining car, lounges and, of course, the same awe as the countryside rolled by. Our cabin was a cosy sanctuary decorated in soft greys with warm timber trims and we even had our own small en-suite with shower.
All food and beverages are included on the trip, with a choice of excursions at each stop.
The Great Southern includes lovely touches like the glasses of Prosecco on arrival in our cabin and the night caps waiting for us each evening next to the itinerary for the following day. As we chugged across the border from Queensland into New South Wales, we gained an hour on the clock and reached our first stop at Coffs Harbour. Dinner was served al fresco on a golden beach, where we were serenaded by a local musician and the haunting sound of a didgeridoo. Back on board, the lounge hummed with conversation and the strum of the onboard musician’s guitar.
Next morning, we chose the Port Stephens’s by Sea excursion on board a luxurious catamaran. The coastline was a sight to behold with breathtaking turquoise water brushing against the pristinely white sandy shores. As we navigated the cliff-like islands outside the harbour, pods of dolphins skimmed the waters around our boat. This corner of New South Wales is a maritime paradise, framed by massive dunes and natural parkland. When we returned to the train, others were giddy with tales from their afternoon spent dune-surfing.
After dinner we settled into the bustling lounge car with other guests. Some had spent the day wine tasting at the Hunter Valley Vineyards while others explored the picturesque city of Newcastle. Solo travellers mingled with couples and a wonderful connectedness evolved.
The following morning, the landscape transformed from tropical lushness to dry plains. Eucalyptus trees stretched skyward as we rolled into Victoria. Our views turned to cattle grazing lazily and kangaroos resting in the shade. The wide billabongs dotted across the land reflected the sunlight.
In Melbourne, some passengers scattered to explore more wineries, while others opted for the tour of the art galleries. We went to Old Melbourne Gaol, a prison museum with an Irish connection – Ned Kelly’s legend still lingers in the dank cells where he met his grizzly end.
Afterwards a delicious lunch was served high above the city at Eureka 89, the southern hemisphere’s highest restaurant, where the view stretches across city and sea.
Each menu onboard reflected our passage and destination: we ate barramundi in Queensland and Black Angus Steak in Victoria, making each meal a celebration of the places we visited.
As we turned towards South Australia, the world outside flattened, with expansive plains punctuated by wind turbines and red hills. It felt like we were leaving civilisation and touching the bones of the continent. Our final evening was filled with nostalgia as we gathered with in the lounge for one last toast.
When dawn arrived, Adelaide appeared on the horizon with the realisation that the Great Southern had been more than just a train journey. In three nights
and four days, what could have been a quick flight became something rarer, a unique and memorable adventure.
Travel Facts
Michelle was a guest of Journey Beyond Rail. To discover more about the Great Southern and itineraries, see journeybeyond rail.com.au. The Coast to Capital Cities four-day, three-night trip costs from €1,600pp in a gold standard cabin.
Michelle and Mark enjoyed catching up and trying new experiences
…and a son’s view – enjoy Sydney like a local
Sydney is one of those cities everyone should visit at least once and if you get the opportunity, stay a bit longer. It’s iconic for good reason, with skyscrapers sitting right beside the water, beaches only a short bus ride from the city centre and there’s always something happening.
While people imagine Sydney as endless blue skies, it’s not always like that. You’ll get grey days, rain and the odd windy week where the ocean looks more dramatic than inviting.
But that’s the thing about living here – it doesn’t matter what the weather is doing, the city still delivers.
If you’re clever, it’s possible to experience the best parts of Sydney without spending much. One of the best free spots in the city is Dudley Page Reserve. It’s a small park in Vaucluse with one of the best skyline views. It’s where I like to sip a coffee, sit on the grass and just stare out at the harbour. Perfect for a picnic or sunrise, it’s even better when the city lights up at dusk.
For anyone who likes to walk, the Coogee to Bondi coastal trail is not to be missed. The cliffs are spectacular, the ocean crashes below and you’ll pass Waverley Cemetery, where the inhabitants have one of the best views in Sydney. The walk ends at iconic Bondi Beach. As well as being an incredible beach for surfing, it’s a good spot to grab food or jump from bar to bar at happy hour.
I wasn’t an early riser before coming to Sydney but for those of us living beside the coast, a quick morning swim has become a habit and feels like a reset button.
Mahon Pool is a personal favourite. It’s calm, peaceful and, during humpback whale season, you can sit there for hours watching them breaching and playing just beyond the coastline.
A cheap but fun way to experience Sydney is from the water. The ferries are basically a budget harbour cruise.
Whether you’re heading to Manly, Taronga Zoo or just doing the ride for the views, it’s one of the best ways to see the city from a completely different angle.
When the weather turns, Sydney still has you covered because all of the museums are free. The Art Gallery of NSW is an easy rainy day option, and with so many museums around the city it’s hard to be bored.
I spent a couple of months living in Surry Hills, a vibrant district that’s walking distance from Circular Quay. The Clock and The Beresford serve pub grub all day and in the evening turn into lively late bars – guaranteed to deliver the kind of night that ends later than planned.
Chat Thai, Via Napoli and Bar Conte are reasonably priced eateries that are all worth a visit too. Any place with Hotel in the name usually isn’t a hotel – it’s a pub, often with surprisingly good food and daily specials.
The Rocks and Darling Harbour have been developed from the old docks to fit in with the new millennium, and are always buzzing too. The Glenmore Hotel, close to the bridge climb, is a personal favourite and if you manage to grab a seat upstairs, you get a great view of the Opera House and harbour.
For shopping, Sydney offers the usual selection of big names you can expect to find in any major city globally.
Chinatown is a good place to shop and much cheaper than the CBD, also thrifting around Newtown or Surry Hills is a solid plan.
Sydney isn’t cheap but there’s plenty of value to be found and if you know where to look, it can feel priceless.
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